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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hammelgammler on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:38:56

Title: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: hammelgammler on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:38:56
Hello geekhack,

i'm new to this forum, so first of all, hello together. :)

I'm currently into keyboards, and find them really interesting, after some looking, and i now have a DasKeyboard Ultimate Model S (MX-Blue) and an IBM Model M from 1993.

In a few weeks i want to buy the Realforce U87 55g because the Topre switches seems to be very good for typist, and i do some coding.
I love my Model M because of the switches, very hard to type on, but without touch typing no real problem, but i have to learn it later.


I found on Amazon.de a Model M SSK for 128€, which seemed to be a good deal for me, but the Seller has no describtion of the article whatsoever... It could be the DE Layout, or the US Layout, i don't know...
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B008USM3UO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What do you think? In the worst case i should be able to return the product, as in Germany there's the law to return an article in two weeks without any reason.
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:49:27
Yes, it's a great keyboard and that's a very good price, especially since they're harder to find outside of North America (where they're pretty hard to find to begin with).

All SSK's are ANSI except for a model made by Unicomp that was ISO.   
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:53:43
Quote from: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:49:27
All SSK's are ANSI except for a model made by Unicomp that was ISO.   

That's not totally true... IBM also did ISO SSKs... :)

@hammelgammler: Ne SSK zu kaufen war eine super Entscheidung! :)



Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: madhias on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:02:34
I saw the Amazon offer several times too, i think it's just an old one the seller never deleted? Some weeks ago the quantity value said there are 3 available, but since 2012? Maybe you have some luck, 128€ is a good price for a SSK.

I have 2 SSKs as my main keyboards in use, in work and at home, i just love them.

Quote from: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:53:43
That's not totally true... IBM also did ISO SSKs... :)

When can we expect to see your industrial ISO SSK? :eek:
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:09:14
Quote from: madhias on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:02:34
I saw the Amazon offer several times too, i think it's just an old one the seller never deleted? Some weeks ago the quantity value said there are 3 available, but since 2012? Maybe you have some luck, 128€ is a good price for a SSK.

I have 2 SSKs as my main keyboards in use, in work and at home, i just love them.

Quote from: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:53:43
That's not totally true... IBM also did ISO SSKs... :)

When can we expect to see your industrial ISO SSK? :eek:


Sadly I had no time to properly clean and boltmod it yet. Also I'm not a big fan of UK Iso... so I either need to put blank or german iso caps on it... but I will definitely keep it ISO... afaik it's a Unicorn.

Lexmark also did Iso SSKs... even german ones.
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: hammelgammler on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:10:19
Thank you very much for your answers. :)
That means i have to hope that this is in good condition, that would be cool.

It's good if its the ANSI layout because i think its way better for programming and the Realforce does only come in 55g with ANSI, so i like to change all my keyboards i type on to an ANSI layout. :)

Quick question as i don't want to open another thread.
Is the Realforce with 55g Topre suitable for gaming when compared to MX-Blue or Buckling Springs?

Edit: First post/thread and accidently made a couple of threads... Good start. :D Sorry for that...
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:19:11
That looks like a good deal. Not exceptional, SSKs were selling for 2x-3x that amount around the first of the year, but now your price seems to be about the norm.

That is an ANSI layout ("US standard") which may be more desirable unless you need the ISO layout. In any event, you can move key caps around, although you would have to buy replacement caps if you want different legends.
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:26:59
Quote from: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:53:43
Quote from: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 15:49:27
All SSK's are ANSI except for a model made by Unicomp that was ISO.   

That's not totally true... IBM also did ISO SSKs... :)

@hammelgammler: Ne SSK zu kaufen war eine super Entscheidung! :)

I know unicomp made one that may have carried the IBM logo, but I don't believe IBM proper or even Lexmark made an ISO layout SSK.

I'm open for corrections though if you can provide sources.
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:40:00
There are several pics of Lexmark Iso SSKs on dt and on that old ibm model m mini love thread here on gh. But currently a bit too lazy to search for them.

And here's the label of my industrial iso ssk
(http://deskthority.net/resources/iso-industrial-ssk/14357)

Will post more pics of it when its cleaned.

:)
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:11:37
Quote from: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:40:00
There are several pics of Lexmark Iso SSKs on dt and on that old ibm model m mini love thread here on gh. But currently a bit too lazy to search for them.

And here's the label of my industrial iso ssk

That's an ISO industrial German SSK?  Without a bolt mod?
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:33:45
Quote from: snoopy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 16:40:00
There are several pics of Lexmark Iso SSKs on dt and on that old ibm model m mini love thread here on gh. But currently a bit too lazy to search for them.

And here's the label of my industrial iso ssk
Show Image
(http://deskthority.net/resources/iso-industrial-ssk/14357)


Will post more pics of it when its cleaned.

:)

wow ID # 9 Very low serial number. I don't know if I've ever seen one lower.

here's tinlong's picture of the front
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33130.msg1391597#msg1391597
(http://i.imgur.com/Ei4Od7y.jpg)
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:48:40
Quote from: dorkvader on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:33:45
here's tinlong's picture of the front

Ah, UK layout.  With the p/n ending with 01 I thought it odd that it would be German, but Snoopy didn't claim that in the first place... :confused:

Awesome, found something new today.    Thanks for the info.

Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: skcheng on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:54:02
Here are pics of my German SSK.   IBM labeled and ISO. 

[url]http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9447.60/url]
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:58:28
Quote from: skcheng on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:54:02
Here are pics of my German SSK.   IBM labeled and ISO. 

 I fixed this for you (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9447.60)
Title: Re: Bought an IBM Model M SSK - Good choice?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 28 September 2014, 18:09:40
Quote from: TacticalStache on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:58:28
Quote from: skcheng on Sun, 28 September 2014, 17:54:02
Here are pics of my German SSK.   IBM labeled and ISO. 

 I fixed this for you (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9447.60)

My eyes!

Fixed it to the exact post:   http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9447.msg172002#msg172002

Nice board.